Heart4kidsadvocacyforum's Blog

Today’s Ingredient:

You must have a love for children and a deep spiritual connection to whom they are as gifts to humanity?

So many times, I fear from my working with teaching students to become teachers, they have not done the work to find our if they have been “Called” to the profession, or if they just showed up because it was a “real job” and they needed the stability.  This then became the first thing on my agenda and the first part of my curriculum for teacher training.  I created spaces and assignments throughout their first semester that called them to first look at themselves and answer a series of questions that were purposefully embedded in the assignments.  I always started with the question-Who am I? this question involved writing their life story and sharing who they are with the class.  Then they could evaluate what areas in their “divine identity” were issues form these life experiences that created their life story up to that point, that they needed to address.

We talk about the baggage we carry as adults that for many of us were left over from our childhood.  There is a notion that became popular that “children are resilient and can overcome any trauma because it happens and resolves itself.  That is crazy!  Children do not forget the things people say and do to them!  What they don’t understand on a cognitive level, they retain on a physiological and emotional level.  Negative experiences impact the “expression of their soul being”.  At the same time, when people say and do things for children that are kind, loving, and make them feel safe, it builds their sense of wellbeing and confidence.  Teachers are the second most prominent influence in a young child’s life, with their parent holding first place in a child’s life.   

What we as teachers say and do to or for children has a lifetime compact on a child. “We cannot just show up to do this “work”, because teaching is not a “Job”, it has to be your “Work”.

Next, I ask them to define and identity -Who am I in the Lives of Young Children”?  This is a make it or break it question when asked of student teachers.  Their response is where I take careful evaluation as to if they are or are not “Called” to the honor of serving children!!!  I have the responsibility as their trainer and mentor to have a serious conversation with each student to make sure they are aligned with this- the greatest “Work” that impacts who our humanity will show up to be.  Every child deserves the best education our countries across the globe can provide.  Our children deserve the best teachers the profession can provide them with.  It is their birth right!!!